Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

6-APDB Facts

Stimulant; Entactogen; Benzofuran; Serotonin releasing agent

Description

6-APDB (4-Desoxy-MDA) is a synthetic empathogen of the substituted benzofuran class. It floods the brain with serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine — driving the emotional warmth characteristic of entactogens.[1]

Subjective effects include emotional warmth, empathy enhancement, tactile euphoria, mild stimulation, and subtle perceptual shifts. The experience is MDMA-like in character — emotional openness dominates over stimulation — but builds more slowly and lasts longer.[2]

No physical dependence has been documented, but 6-APDB carries a cardiac risk absent from MDMA — repeated use activates a receptor that causes heart valves to thicken and scar over time.[1][3] The damage accumulates silently, and combining it with antidepressants or other serotonergic drugs risks a dangerous overheating and seizure response.[4]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 20 mgLight30 – 70 mgCommon70 – 100 mgStrong100 – 130 mgHeavy130+ mg

Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 6 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 12 – 24 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Moderate

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
75 days
Carries over to
MDMA; MDA; 6-APB; 5-APB; 5-APDB; methylone

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Music enhancement; +8 possible, including Visual haze / noise
Body
Pupil dilation; Wakefulness; Appetite suppression; Stimulation; Body high; Body scan awareness; Physical fatigue; +22 possible, including Excessive sweating, Temperature dysregulation, Heart rate perception changes
Thinking
Cognitive euphoria; Openness enhancement; +20 possible, including Decision impairment, Suggestibility enhancement, Compulsive redosing urge
Feeling
Empathy enhancement; Emotional enhancement; Euphoria; +9 possible, including Depression, Emotional lability, Anhedonia
Self
Sociability enhancement; Social connection; Trust enhancement; +5 possible, including Craving
Time
none likely · 2 possible
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 2 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Cardiac valve disease; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Relative
Uncontrolled hypertension; Epilepsy; Bipolar disorder; Psychotic disorders; Hepatic impairment

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (34)
Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; and 10 more, see full page
Caution (22)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/6-apdb
Not graded (3)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Overheating / very high body temperature — heavy sweating, then hot dry skin (the leading cause of MDMA deaths, worse when dancing in hot venues)
  • Muscle rigidity, jaw clenching, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
  • Fast, pounding heartbeat; chest pain
  • Agitation, confusion; seizures
  • Hyponatremia (water intoxication) — headache, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and seizures from drinking too much water
  • Nausea/vomiting; collapse or unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Move them somewhere cool and help them cool down — overheating is the main danger
  2. Sip water to stay hydrated but DO NOT overdrink — roughly a cup (250 ml) per hour if active; too much water can be deadly (hyponatremia)
  3. Get them to rest and stop dancing
  4. For overheating, seizures, chest pain, muscle rigidity/tremor, confusion, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services
  5. Recovery position if drowsy or vomiting; stay with them
  6. Be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

Most resolve with cooling, rest, sensible hydration, and time. The life-threatening dangers are hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, and hyponatremia (too much water) — each a medical emergency, not something to wait out.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^abRickli A, Kopf S, Hoener MC, Liechti ME (2015) Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans — British Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1111/bph.13128
  2. [2]
    ^Dolan SB, Forster MJ, Gatch MB (2017) Discriminative stimulus and locomotor effects of para-substituted and benzofuran analogs of amphetamine — Drug and Alcohol Dependence doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.041
  3. [3]
    ^Rothman RB, Baumann MH (2009) Serotonergic drugs and valvular heart disease — Expert Opinion on Drug Safety doi:10.1517/14740330902931524
  4. [4]
    ^Luethi D, Liechti ME (2020) Designer drugs: mechanism of action and adverse effects — Archives of Toxicology doi:10.1007/s00204-020-02693-7
Print version
Report an issue